The Journal
Find out the latest from Frankie, read articles on helpful advice and tips, or just get to know her better here…
A Very Special Equine Session near the Scottish Border in Cumbria
This very special session was to commemorate Shelby’s retirement from riding. This gorgeous pony has been Ella’s companion since she first learned to ride, and their amazing bond was at the heart of what I was capturing on that beautiful late summer’s evening. The images themselves were kept under wraps for a while, carefully guarded and kept a secret until Christmas, when Ella was finally surprised with the finished portraits. I’m a strong believer in good things come to those who wait, and this was no exception!
My 2025 in Photography: 295+ Dogs, Endless Lessons, and What Actually Mattered
295+ dogs photographed. 15+ horses. 4 cats. August alone brought 165 dogs through my lens. I earned five trophies, gained four photography titles, sat on two qualification panels, and got featured on the BBC, Digital Camera World, PetaPixel, and Forbes.
But here's what those stats don't tell you. I wanted to share a little more about what 2025 has meant to me and my little photography business with big dreams.
I still can’t believe Photography by Frankie is only just about to turn 1 year old!
The Dog-Lover’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025 (From Someone Who Lives With a Collie in Cumbria)
Every December I find myself looking for things that are actually useful, beautifully made, and genuinely enjoyed by the dog in my life. It’s also quite helpful to have some things in your arsenal for when someone special in your life asks you what you want for Christmas too! I’m a huge fan of well-made products that last and make life with a dog richer, easier, calmer or cosier.
Working Dog Photography Cumbria: Meeting Fllandrys Becc, Spyview Nell and Flo in Gilsland
I'm always interested in doing more working dog photography around Cumbria and Northumberland. As a professional dog photographer in Brampton, I love capturing the unique bond between working dogs and their handlers across the beautiful landscapes of the North. If you've got working dogs that deserve their moment in front of the camera, drop me a line.
You can get in touch here, or have a look at some of my other recent work if you want to see what these sessions typically produce.
Dog Photography in Lancaster: Nobody Told Me About All the Hills (but it was worth every step!)
April also saw me visit the city of Lancaster, somewhere I had passed through many-a-time on the train but never stopped off at, at least since I was a child. You know the drill by now, I’m on my tour of 12 Northern English cities conducting 5 portrait sessions in each with the aim of making a 2026 calendar showcasing all the fantastic dogs of the North that put their best paw forward in front of my lens. Whew. The needle is also moving ever forward, with me so close to revealing the charity beneficiary of a portion of my calendar sales profits later in the year. In the meantime, please enjoy reading about the seven, yes seven, dogs I photographed in Lancaster. From a low-riding sausage to a bouncy dalmatian, Lancaster had it all. Combine that with a healthy dose of beautiful architecture then I was on to a sure fire winner here.
Durham Dog Photography: The Calendar Project Returns to the North East
Destination number five on my 2025 dog photography project was Durham, a city sat pretty on a hilly peninsula, known for its beautiful architecture, the river and a plethora of showstopping spots for photography. I was aghast to find out it had been just over 20 years since I had visited Durham last, well before I went to university myself, and if you’d have told me 20 years ago that the next time I would be back is to photograph dogs for a calendar project I would have never believed you!
Badger's Story: The Most Memorable Dog Photography Session at Crosby Beach
It was a very stimulating atmosphere for Badger to feel at ease and have fun as well as provide several points of interest for him to pose: the dunes, the rocks and the odd washed up tree trunk. Because the world simply does not have enough dog on a log photographs and I will die on that hill.
Photographing Rebel the Working Border Collie at Cragg House Farm, a Hidden Gem in Buttermere
There’s something incredibly humbling about spending time on a farm like this. It’s not curated, not polished. It’s real and oh so wholesome. And so are the dogs: no-nonsense, intelligent, and deeply bonded with the land and their handlers. Photographing a working dog like Rebel in this environment was less about posing (believe me, I tried once and he wasn’t having any of that - noted!) and so much more about honouring who he is: a dog with purpose who lives to work.
Urban Dog Photography in Liverpool: You’ll Never (Dog) Walk Alone
In early March, I returned to my hometown of Liverpool to photograph six incredible dogs for my upcoming 2026 Angels of the North dog calendar. I was spoiled for choice with iconic scouse backdrops, and it's reassuring to know I could return to Merseyside for future dog photography sessions without repeating the same scenes. When I shared my model call in a local Liverpool Facebook group, my inbox nearly exploded. That’s what I love about this city. Scousers really do support one of their own. Thank you to everyone who applied, you made my job brilliantly difficult. Not a bad problem to have.
York Dog Photography: Meet the Dogs who Turned it On for My Camera
Having already visited York to conduct some dog photography model sessions all the way back in January, I was all fired up to return and capture some show-stopping portraits of a whole new set of dogs in March. The historical city of York left me spoiled for choice for beautiful backdrops for dog photography, but I was also determined not to repeat the exact same set of images I captured earlier in the year. Turns out, I need not have worried as this time the sun was determined to up the ante for me as it is now rising so much earlier in the day.